Tractor



6 Sh'ets-Sheet l '-IN Apr. 17, 1923. L. E. WATERMAN ET AL TRACTOR Filedy June 9, 193.9`

N. MJ

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'| E. WATERMAN ET AL.

TRACTOR i File@ June 9 1919 s sheets-sheet 2 N. f YS 1 e v v- N g4 fizz/erZ/s:

Apr. 17, 1923.

' 1,451,796 l.. E. WATERMAN ET AL TRACTOR 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filled- Apr. 17, 1.923. 1,451,796 L.. E, WATERMAN ET Al.

TRACTOR Filed. June 9, 1919 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 w1- O gx "\Q Apr. 17, 1923.

L. E. WATERMAN ET AL TRACTOR 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed. June 9, 1919 Patented Apr. 17, 1923.

UNITED 'STATES 1,451,796 PATENT ortica.

LEWIS E. WATERMAN, HARRY R. TRAPIIAGEN, AND HOWARD L. WATERMAN, 0F ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNILS T0 EMERSON-BRANTINGHAM COMPANY, OF ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS, A CORPRATIUN OF ILLINIS.

TRACTOR.

Application filed June 9, 191i?.

T0 all wiwi/t t 'may concern.'

Be it lrnown that We, Lnivrs lt. Viln'rnn- MAN, HARRY Tnir una, and llena-inn L. lVA'rnnaian, citizens of the United States, residing` at Rockford, in the county of 1Winnehago and State ot lllinois, have invented certain new and usc'lul lniproveinents in Tractors. of which the following is a specilication.

Our invention pertains generally te moto;l vehicles and to that class known as larin tractors.

It is particularly desirable in the design ol forni tractors that they shall be readily adaptable to the numerous needs of power application on a farm and to the Working conditions and requirements Whieh vary in different localities. lVith this in mind, We have aimed to provide a farm tractor ot generally im roved design and construction whereby the engine power ina-y be utilized in a most etiicient manner for the various needs ol the average farm. In other Words7 our chier', object is to provide a :tarm tractor,

' the Yframe and transmission mechanism or which are so designed and co-ordinated as to eitectually serve not only the ordinary purposes or a tractor, power pulley drive.v hauling and. the pullingot ploivs, drags, drills and numerous other lf'arni implements, but which shall also be Well adapted tor cultivating' purposes and Afor operating in fields in which the plants are roivs or different widths.

Our object also is to provide a farm tractor of the above character. the power transmission ot which readily adaptable to the various Working conditions and requirements to which atractor of this type is subjected. and the control and operatioii ot which is simple and thoroughly practical.

fr further object resides in the provision oi a i' :arm tractor posscssini;` the desired qualities. which shall be so dos opted as to be capable oit economical prof .iuercial basis.

A still tu "their object is arrange the mechanism which transmits power between the engine and the traction wheels and to coordinate t iis with the peculiar 'traino slructurc :is to secure the greatest icncy in traoi'ive and (Eleni-bail' non. uur. also to' avoid undue strain and traction on Working parts and 'the conseu to so design and luction on a com Serial No. 302,695.

quent loss of power and damage to such parts.

These and other objects and attendant advantages will be better appreciated by those familiar 'with this art as the invention becomes better understood by reference to the i'oll.ov.'ing description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which We have illustrated a preferred emL bodimenl ol our improvements.

eterring to the drawings,-

l is a plan View of a. 'farm tractor ernbodying our improvements showing a portion of the power pulley mounting` in section;

Fig. 2., a longitudinal sectional View through the tractor taken substantially on the line 2--2 ot Fig. l;

Fig. Sl, en enlarged plan View of the transn'iission mechanism with the cover of the transmission casing removed;

Fig. el, a longitudinal sectional view through the transmission mechanism taken substantially on the line i- 4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5, a transverse sectional view through the transmission talren substantially on the line 5) 5 ol' lll'ig. 4L;

S and 7, detail sectional views taken substantially on the lines 6-6 and 7 3?, respectively, oil Fig'. 3;

Fig. S, a fragmentary rear elevation of one et' the traction Wheels and its mounting on the trame;

Fig. a plan View orn the traction Wheel mounting shown in Fig. 8, with the traction n'beol and its immediate driving means removed; and

Figs. l() and ll. detail sectional views taken substantially on the lines lO-lO and lll- 11, respectively, of 9.

Referring to Fig. l, it Will be seen that our improved farm tractor in its preferred embodiment iso'f the three-wheel type consisting; olE tivo rear traction Wheels l5 and 16 and forward intermediate dirigible and easter Wheel 1.7. These Wheels carry the main frame designated generally by character 1P. the dirigible Wheel having a permanent connection therewith andthe traction Wheels being adiustably attached thereto through the agency of laterally adjustable trame sections designated generally by characters 19 and 21. iyhichas explained more fully hereinafter, are adjustable lnwardly sills 24 and 25 with which the trame sec tions 19 and 21 are adjustably associated,

and the outer portions of these Channel beams "are rigidly tied together and braced. by the longitudinally extending' outer.1 frame sills 26 and 27 which lare rigidly joined at'their forward ends to the central .trame sills. A.

`l forwardly located transverse beam 28 rip;-

I neet with the traction wheel. runnin(Y idly connected to the outer sills 26 and 2T and braced by the angle bail 29 serves Yfor the attachment of radius rods 8l which cons gear for taking'certain strains on the saine as will be noted hereinafter. The transverse `4beam 28 also serves as what might be termed a draw bar as the cultivating-Y devices (not shown) are adapted to be attached at their 'forward ends to this beain and suspended be neath the tractorlraine, the cultivating.;T devices being further supportedat their rear ends `from the transverse bar 32 secured to the rear end of the center frame sills. An

` operators seat 33 is supported at the rear of' thetraction' wheels through the agency ot rearwardly convergingl traine connected members 34, which also support the operating devices for controlling the motor, transmission and steering mechanisms.

The running gear-and immediate driving means per se for the traction wheels constitute the subject matter ot a companion application, Serial No. 802,697. In order that a clear understanding of the present iinprovements may b e had, a description of this construction is given as follows. It will be noted that the main iframe is supported relatively high to clear the plants when the tractor is used for cultivatinga pur- `poses and also to accommodate the cultivating devices which are suspended beneath and carried byI the frame. Since the running gear and immediate'driving means for each traction `wheel is the same, a description of one will suffice. rrlhe adjustable traine' secvtion 2l in its preferred embodiment consists of a pair of front and rear channel.

V"beam-s 35 and 36 respectively interposed between the channel beams`24 and 25 rigidly vsecured togetherv in spaced relation at their outer and inner endsmby an interposed `axle 'i bracket .38 and a screw shaft bracket 39. j. As

shown in Figs'. 8andf10,' the channel beams 3.5.' and 36are rigidly secured to theibraclret 4 -B'Sby means'otbeltsf) 'which :pass 'through "elongated 'openings 41 in" the"web ofthe' channel beams, thus permitting of horizontal adjustment of the bracket 88 relatively to the frame section 2l. The bracket 38 is shaped te receive the horizontal portion 42 olf an axle member and is preferably cored longitudinally for this purpose to provide a bore 43 slightly elongated in cross section, as shown in Fig. l0, for the purpose of permitting vertical adjustment or play oit said axle portion within the bore. rlhe axle member has an upright portion 44 joining the horizontal portion 42 with the axle proper upon which the hub 45 el the traction wheel revolves. The upright portion 44 of the axle member is clamped by means oft a U-bolt 46 to a depending,r extension 47 integral with the braclrel 38. Adjustable means are new provided for securing;A the horizontal portion 42 of the axle member to the bracket 38, consisting,- preferably ot a pair of set screws 48 and tl-bolts 49. The set screws are arranged as shown in Fig. 8 adjacent to the outer and inner ends ofthe bracket 3S and are threaded through the lower wall thereot as shown in Fig. l0 and term vertically adjustable seats for the axle portion. 42. rllhc tl-bolts 49 arranged adjacent to the set screws 48 and embracing: the top of the axle portion 42 and passing down through the bottom of the bracket 38, are equipped with the usual nuts for drawing the bolts tight te clainp the axle member in fixed position en the set screws. lt will be obviousA that by adjustment ot these set screws and the U-bolts the position of the yaxle portion 42 with resi-acct te the horizontal may be varied, thereby canting the traction wheel with respect to the vertical :tor the purpose et properly aligning the driving connection for the traction wheel nientioned hereinafter.

r' he immediate means :For driving the traction wheel is associated with. the winning` gear and traction wheel iu the following manner: @ur invention contemplates the provision oi a cross shaft or jack shaft so vmounted in Connection with the adjustable i'irame section 2i. and having: such driving; connection with the trfution wheel that the jack shalt, the iframe section and trai'ttion wheel constitute a unit adai'ited to he adjusted laterally on the main trame. ln the present illustration olf' our improvements, this driving` connection is by direct engagement of a spur Igear 5l on the j a clr sli-:ii`tr52 with a buil gear lined tothe traction wheel. The bull Apear fits on the hub of the traction wheel and is proifided with laterally extending, lues f. 4 which are seffnureifl bv bolts to the struts 56 in turn fixed to the rim et' the traction wheel. The jack shaft 52 has a bcarinsy at its outer end in the bearinnv bracket 57 which is secured by means of bolts to the outer end or" 'the adjustable trame section.' The Titani-zr end et? thejaeh in the opposite direction.

shaft is journaled in a bearing bracket 59 secured by bolts 61 to the channel beams 24 and 25 of the main frame. The jack shaft is adapted to be driven by a` suitable sprocket chain 62 trained over sprockets 63 and 64, the former of which is iiXed to one of the driven members of the differential and the other splined on the jack shaft. inasmuch as the jack shaft is held against longitudinal arial movement with respect to thel bearing bracket 57 the relation between the gears 51 and 53 is not changed when the frame section 21 is adjusted laterally. Tt will be manifest that when such an f adjustment is made, the sprocket 64 will first be loosened so as not to interfere with the bearing bracket 59 when adjusting the frame outwardly. The frame section 21 during movement inwardly and outwardly on the main frame is guided at its sides between the channel beams 24 and 25, at its top by the frame bar 27 and the base of the bearing bracket 59, and at its bottom by a guide plate 65 .fixed to the channels 24 and 25. The cross shaft 52 by being mounted at its outer end in a bracket fixed to the adjust-- able frame section and at its inner end in a bearing bracket fixed to the main frame, also functions as a guide between the adjustable frame section and the main fra-me. As shown in Fig. 1, a casing 50 covers the gears 51 and 53.

Means is now provided for positively moving the traction wheel frame sections at each end of the main frame inwardly and outwardly in unison and for locking them in any adjusted position. This means consists preferably of a single screw shaft 66 passing through a bracket 67 fixed to the channel beams 24: and 25 and held against longitudinal axial movement with respectto the bracket 67 by suitable collars. This screw shaft is provided at one end with a left hand screw and at its opposite end with a right hand screw, and these are threadingly engaged respectively with the brackets 39 at the inner ends of the adjustable frame sections. By revolving the screw shaft 66, the frame sections 19 and 21 will be simultaneously moved inwardly and outwardly according to the direction in which said shaft is rotated. As shown in Fig. 11, the screw shaft 66 is equipped with a fixe-:l ratchet wheel 68 and also a loose hand lever 69 which is provided with a pawl 71 co-Operating with the ratchet wheel. By oscilla-ting the lever 69, the screw shaft 66 will be rotated in one direction by means of the ratchet connection and by swinging the pawl to the opposite side from that shown in Fig. 11 the screw shaft will be revolved This ratchet and screw device provides a very effective and practical means for adjusting the frame sections in unison and also serves to lock these frame sections in any position to which they have been moved.

Coming now to the motor and to the transmission mechanism for connecting the same with the jack shafts 52, it will be understood that the transmission mechanism per se 'which we illustrate herein is the subject matter of ano-ther companion application Serial No. 802,696. This transmission mechanism7 however, co-operates in a peculiar manner with the motor and the jack shafts to the end that a novel arrangement is produced which is especially advantageous to a. farm tractor of the character in mind. It is desired both for economical and practical reasons to mount the motor and the transmission casing as separate units on the inner frame sills 22 and 23, and to transmit the engine power between these units through the agency of a friction drive. Our present improvements contemplate a novel connection between the motor and transmission casing, whereby the connecting parts and the driving elements are not affected by relative displacement of the motor and transmission casing, due to lateral and torsional straining or twisting of the main frame incidental to traveling over uneven ground, such as a farm tractor travels over very frequently. The novel results attained by incorporating this transmission mechanism in a tractor in the manner disclosed herein will be evident from the following description of the construction and oper-ation thereof. The engine or motor designated generally by the` character 7 2 and the transmission casing by the character 73 are rigidly and separately mounted upon and between the center sills 22 and 23, the motor being positioned at the eXtreme forward end of the frame and the transmission mechanism between the motor and jack shafts 52 as shown. The transmission casing shaped to provide a forward, narrow and laterally elongated compartment 74 inclosing a transverse friction disk shaft designated generally by the character 75, and a rear upright circular compartment 76 housing a differential mechanism, is rigidly supported at its forward and rea-r ends by legs 77 secured tothe frame sills 22 and 26. The casing has top and base suitably bolted togethei." forming an oil-proof and dust-tight inclosure for the running parts which it is desired to keep well lubricated and free from dust and dirt.

The friction disk shaft 75 journaled in suitable bearings 76 projects at each end beyond the casing and has fixedly mounted upon its projecting ends,y the friction disks T8 and 79. The friction disk shaft is free `to slide longitudinally of its axis for Shift- `forward andrear ends in the bearings 841 yiclementiSGvr which is fixed to the part 87 in turn `driven by the engine crank shaft.` `The rear bearing f a I forwardl "extension of and 85 respectively.

These bearings are Constructed in a novel manner to permit `of certain flexibility in order to relieve the iparts from undue stra-in and wear caused by irelative movement between the engine and 1- transmission casingfdue to torsion or twist-J `ing of the frame.l In the present instance, the bearing 84 carried by the fly wheel 85 is supported by the transmissionvcasing base. Both the forward extension and rear bearings include outer and i inner parts 88 and 89 respectively, the ineeting surfaces of which are on an arc struck from the centerof the shaft in a plane parallel with the longitudinalV axis thereof.

`This construction provides what may be i termed a universalmounting for each end ofthe shaft 88 permitting disaligninent of this shaft with-respect to the engine crank shaft without imposing any strain on the `l.associatedparts` Inasmuch as the fly wheel 86-isrigidly connected with the driving f part' 87 it is necessary to provide a flexible `driving connection between the fly wheel and .the friction drive shaft 83 consisting of a diaphragm 91 of flexible material such as `leather rigidly secured to .its periphery .by fastening means 92 to the fly wheel and `at its center portion by the fastening means the parts the flexible diaphragm 91, the central collar 93 to a central collar 94 splined on the shaft The power then is transmitted from 8 to the fly wheel 86, then through l `9t,andthe shaft 83 to the friction driving s. wheel.

-is supportedat oneend on a. rigid casing lt will be noted that the shaft 83 i which yalsocarries the friction disks 78 and 79, so that ithese friction driving elements are `supported Vin a very substantial oper- .ative relation, and at the same time the shaft 88 is so mounted as to allow for flexing of the frame and relative movement bel-tween the engine and transmission casing.

Suitable means may be provided for shifting the driving wheel 81 longitudinally on the shaft 83 to eitherdrive the friction disk v78 or 79 andat different distances from the .center thereof to produce faster or slower forward or reverse speeds as will he mani-- "fest, depending upon which friction disk is yengaged and on the location of the driving wheel.

This means in the present instance,`

censistsof a collar 95 disposed in the annular groove 96y inthe hub of the friction drive .I ".65'11rwheelpand trunnioned at its ends'97 (Fig.

, friction disks.

6) `in a ,shifting arm 98 fixed to an operating rod 99 adapted to be shifted at will by the operator through any suitable control means for moving the friction drive wheel rearwardly and forwardly on the shaft 83. It will be noted that the arm 98 entirely embraces the collar 95 and is shaped to provide annular edges over-reaching the collar so as to prevent oil from being thrown onto the In the present instance the operating rod 99 is extended rearwardly and attached through an adjustable connection to a manually operable lever 101 positioned on the frame 34 in front of the operators seat and cooperating with a suitable notched segment.

1n order to move the friction disk shaft .longitudinally of its axis to engage and disengage either the disk 78 or 79 and the friction driving wheel and to lioldthe disks in set working positions the following means is provided. This comprises a collar 102 looselyembracing the shaft and interposed between collars 103 fixed against longitudinal movement on the shaft. The stationary collar 102 is equipped with trunnions engaged by the ends of a yoke 1041, which in turn is provided with top and lower pivot portions or trunnions 105 pivotally mounted on the top and base sections of the transmission casing as shown in Fig. 7. The bearing for the lower trunnion or pivot shaft 105 is packed to prevent leakage of oil from the casing. Any suitable anti-friction thrust bearing may be employed between the shifting collar 102 and the revolving collars 103. An arm 106 fixed to the lower end of the yoke shaft 105 is connected at its outer end with an operating rod 107 oiiick contact which is detrimental to the' fibre surface of the driving wheel and when moved in Athe reverse direction will engage the disk 79. The engaging of these friction disks by operation of thc lever 109 produces forward and reverse driving speeds, as will lie manifest. and by operating the lever `101 to shift the friction driving wheel the speed ratios may be changed.

The friction disk shaft 75 directly drives a diiferential mechanism b v means of a spur pinion 111 splined on the shaft and meshing with the differential driving gear 112. This latter gear it will be noted is of relatively large diameter tc secure the proper reduction and is entirely inclosedby the transmission soi thatall of the gears run.

in a dust-proof and oil-tight inclosure. The differential driving gear is keyed to a differential shaft 113 u-pon each end of which is freely revoluble a driven member in the form of a sleeve 114 carrying a bevel gear 115 in mesh with the intermediate bevel gears or pinions 116 carried by the difieren tial driving gear. The sleeves 114 journaled in suitable bearings 117 on the transmission casing support the differential mechanism. Thus a differential mechanism of simple construction is directly driven from the friction disk shaft at the proper speed reduction and a common casing supports and houses this mechanism, the friction disk shaft, and the means for shifting said shaft longitudinally. Upon the end of each sleeve 114 is rigidly secured a brake pulley 118 with which cooperates a split band 119 adapted to be contracted by operation of a lever 121 (Fig. 2) pivotally mounted at 122 upon the inner side of the frame sill 23. It will be noted that the ends of the brake band are connected to the lever 121 at a common side of the pivot 122 in such manner that upon swinging the lever in a clockwise direction viewing F ig. 2, the brake band will be contracted in a very effective manner. To each driven member of the differential is rigidly secured a driving member 63 mentioned above for driving the adjacent jack shaft, and in the present instance this driving member is in the form of a double sprocket gear, by means of which two general ranges of driving speeds may be transmitted to the traction wheels. lThe purpose of the differential mechanism is well known in the art; and the band brakes are used to retard rotation of either traction driving wheel at will, so that the power will be transmitted to the other at accelerated speed to turn the tractor about the retarded traction wheel as a pivot. rl`he band brakes 108 are under the immediate control of the operator, and in order that the tractor shall be steered in the same manner as a pivot wheel cultivator we have connected the brake levers 121 with foot levers 123 and 124, the operation of which by forward foot pressure causes either brake to be instantly engaged for producing either slight steering movements or complete turns. Suitable springs may be used if necessary, to return and hold the levers in normal position. By arranging the brakes on the driven members of the differential, the strain when engaging either brake is limited to a minimum number of parts, as it will be noted that when either brake is engaged the strain is relieved on the driving parts between such brake and its respective traction wheel.

Referring now to Fig. 1, we have combined with our improved transmission mechanism, a power pulley attachment whereby the ower from the friction disk shaft 75 may e utilized for other purposes than for propellingA a tractor. We have yaimed to detachably secure a power pulley means of which the pinion is manually shifted into and out of engagement with the gear 112. In order to lock the handle 128 in its several positions it is equipped at its outer end with a spring pressed detent 129 (Fig. 5) adapted to engage in notches 131 and 132 in the transmission casing. When the arm 128 is shifted so that the detent engages in the notch 131 the pinion 111 will be withdrawn from the gear 112 and held in such position. Thus in either position of the pinion 111 it is not disturbed by longitudinal shifting movement of the friction disk shaft. The shaft section 133 which carries the fixed power pulley 134 is suitably secured at its inner end to a coupling member 135 detachably fitting on the end of the friction disk 79 and secured thereto by means of a plurality of bolts spaced circumferentially about the coupling member. A stable but adjustable bearing supports the extended end of the shaft 133 and consists of a suitable anti-friction bearing carried by acasing 136 which is adjustably supported within the annular head 137 of a bracket 138 through the agency of set screws 139 quarteringly arranged. The bracket 138 is rigidly secured to the outer frame beam 27. inasmuch as the periphery of the bearing casing 136 is curved in a plane parallel with the longitudinal aXis of the shaft 133 (as shown in our co-pending application Serial No. 302,696) and is adjustable radially in all directions by means of set screws 139 the bearing may be properly adjusted to align the shaft section 133 with the friction disk shaft.

From the foregoing, it will be noted that all of the gearing is inclosed within the transmissioncasing 73 and that the friction disks 78 and 79 are carried by the ends of a shaft which extends through this casing. The lubricant in the casing has a tendency to work out on the ends of the friction disk shaft and onto the faces of the friction disks. The deposit of oil on these faces very seriously affects the efficiency of a drive of this character and we have aimed to provide means for eifectually preventing the oil from getting onto the disk faces. To this end a collar 141, Fig. 3, on each end of the friction disk shaft just inside of the trictiondisk and iiXedlto `the transmission casing, is provided onfits'inner side with an annular groove 142 adapted fondraining the oil which works' 7outw`ardly through the bearing 76 to the passage'143, Fig. 5, and back to the casing compartment 7 4. The collar 141 is further shaped to provide anannular tapered flange 144 whicl'rprojects into an annular chamber 10 "4145 Yin the face of the friction dislr. This annular chamber is radially enlarged and there is"aplurality oft' oil discharge openings 146*communicating withthe periphery ot said'channel. The oil which drips 'from the l'iilange' 144 into the chamber' 145 will be thrownoutby centrifugal torce and discharged through the openings 146 so as not to'interferewith the friction dislr iaces.

We claim:

""f 1f In a tractor, the combination ot a main frame, a pair of traction wheels, a trame section'connecting'each traction `wheel with the main frame and adjustable laterally thereon, ajack shaft `mounted upon and adjust-` zable laterally with each trame section for driving itsrespective traction wheel, a motor and transmission mechanism.mounted on the main-frame, the transmission mechanism including a differential', each driven member ot gl-which has vvachain drivingl connection with One'iofthe jacksha'lts, and a brake `tor retardingrotation of each driven member ot th e differential.

2. Ina tractor, the combination et a main -franie comprising a pair ot longitudinal sills rigidly joined together' by a transverse frame portion,v a iframe section adjustable outwardly vand inwardly oneacheiztremity 01: 'saidtransverse frame portionand equipped dewith va tractionwheel and a acl( shait 'for driving the' traction wheel, and a `motor and a transmission mechanism mounted on the frame sills, the transmission mechanism includinga differential each driven member ot dwhielh hasf a vseparate driving connection withv one 4of the jack shafts.

3; In a tractor, the combination ot a pair of central laterally spaced power-plant sills,

a cross sill structure rigidly connected to wdthecentral `sills an outer brace sill rigidly connecting each outer end of the transverse sill'structure with the motor end oit the central sills,`a frame section adjustable in ward ly and Aoutwardly on each outer extremity 551101 `the transverse sill structure, a traction wheel andl a vjaclnshaiit therefor so associated witheach frame'section as to be adjustable'therewith as a `unit, a motor mounted on thel central sills, a transmission mecha- Anism`mounted on the central sills between the motorV and jack-shafts, including a dii:- i`erential, and ay driving connection between each"d1iven"member of the differential and the adjacent ack-shaft.

`iframe `a jack-shaft in permanent drivin 4; In a tractor, the" combinationof a mainl 65 trame including a pair of central laterally spaced power-plant sills rigidly joined together at one end by a transverse sill'stiucture, a traction wheel for each side of the frame, a jack-shaft :tor each traction wheel in driving connection therewith, a frame' sec tion holding each traction wheel and itsl jack-shaft in co-operative relation and so mounted on the lateral extremity of 'the transverse sill 'structure as to be adjustable thereon laterally of theframe, a motor-"and l transmission mechanism mounted on the power-plant sills and inoliidingfa"diierential, and a driving connection'betweenfeaelr` driven memberof the differential and the 80 adjacent j aclnshatt.

5. In a tractor, the combination of a iframe,` a motor and a transmission mounted there! on, the transmission including adifelrential," each driven member oi which is equipped with a fixed brake drum and a drivingme'm ber, a traction wheel for each'sideof the connection with each traction wheel, means-f so comiecting each tractioirivheel' and-its 90 jack-shail't tothe frameA as to permit :'the'r'n to be laterally adjusted as al unit onthe frame, a driven member splined onweac'h"i jaclrshaft in alignment'withthe adjacent*` driven member of the differential, a 'flexible' 95 driving connection between the --aligned f driven members, and brake bands forfsaid drums adapted to be independently applied"` tor retarding rotation of either driven member oi the diiierential.

G. In a tractor, the combi-nation of apair of power-plant sills in laterally spaced parl allel relation, rearwardly diverging 'brace'v sills at ther outer sides 'of the" powenplant sills, cross sills rigidly joining the rearV portions of the aforementioned sillstr'action" wheel trame" units laterally `adjustable in connection with the cross sills, and amotor and transmission mechanism mou'ntedonthe power-plant sills and having driving f'co'nnecti on with the traction Wheels.`

7. In a tractor, the combination of a pair' of power-plant sills in laterally spacedpar# allel relation, rearwardly' diverging brace sills` at the outer 'sides' of thev power-plant`115 sills, cross sills rigidly joining the "rear portions ol3 the 'aforementioned sills, rearward ly convergingv seat bars supported atr theirl lront ends through the agencyof said cross sills and carrying at `their'rear ends a seat. carrying wheels tor the frame' including* traction wheels associated with the-'crossUAV sills, a motor and transmission mechanism mounted on the power-plantsills,"and con-'-` trol devices supported throughtheagencv 125 of said seat bars and connected with ythe transmission mechanism.

8.` Ina tractor, the combination of a` frame, supporting Wheels therefor ineluding a pair of traction Wheels, a frame seotion for each traction Wheel laterally adjustable on the frame for correspondingly adjiistingr its respective Wheel, a jack-shaft journaled on each ltrame section and in driving Connection with its traction Wheel, a motor and transmission mechanism ineluding a differential mounted on the frame, and a driving connection between each driven member of the dilterential and the adjacent jack-shaft adapted for accommodating lateral adjustments of its frame sections and appurtenant parts.

9. ln a tractor, the combination of a frame, traction Wheels, a motor, transmission meehanisin including a dierential, a jack-shaft for each traction Wheel laterally adjustable therewith on the iframe7 and a driving connection between each driven member of the 20 differential and the adjacent jaekshaft.

LEWIS ll WATERMAN. HARRY R. TRAPHAGEN. HOWARD L. WATERMAN. 

